If there is a public official in Uganda who has been in the news for the wrong reasons, then it is Deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma, there is no doubt about that.
Justice Kavuma has for instance has been in the news for issuing unpopular directives and orders. The most recent ones include the “stupid” order stopping anybody from discussing the Shs6billion presidential handshake to selected government officials and late last year when he stopped Forum for Democratic Change national prayers across the country.
Well, Justice Kavuma is in the news again, this time as a land grabber.
This follows a lawsuit file by Mr John Sentongo before the Land Division of the High Court in Kampala over alleged. The land in question is located in Kizungu zone Makindye.
According to the complainant, he bought the piece of land nine years ago (2008) from Mr Obed Kabagambe, he adds that he even has written agreements that confirm him as the owner of the land.
According to the petition seen by this news site, “The plaintiff (Mr Sentongo) did in early March present the defendant (Justice Kavuma) two agreements and verbally explained to him how he acquired the disputed land and challenged the defendant on his claims of ownership,” the petition reads.
Sentongo however was prompted to run to court after verbally explaining to Justice Kavuma and trying to settle the matter out of court in vain.
The complainant (Sentongo) explained to this reporter that land is next to to Justice Kavuma’s land which had an old unfinished structure.
Trouble begins
Mr Sentongo says that in March 2016, Justice Kavuma put up a small structure on his plot and a signpost placed warning people not to trespass.
This provoked Sentongo to report a criminal trespass case on his plot to the police although it was himself that got locked up Makindye Police Post.
Fencing the land
Sentongo told this reporter that in January 2017, Justice Kavuma brought workers loaded on a UPDF truck and some armed men to ensure the fence around the land is successful.
Kavuma to explain
Accordingly, deputy registrar of Land Division, Esther Nambayo, has summoned Justice Kavuma to file his defense to the said lawsuit within two weeks from the date he received the summons before a hearing date can be set.
